Could Paypal Dispute help me?

So I've been trying to contact my host for a while now about sending a shorten trip request, but he literally stopped answering me after I sent my request.

I decide to ask Airbnb customer service if they can help and all they told me to do was cancel and get a 50% refund which is dumb. All I'm trying to do is shorten the trip. So I asked to talk to a supervisor and instead they said they will open this case with a case manager. In this whole week, I've talked to the ACTUAL case manager once and I called everyday and every rep is saying she's not available and she will be in contact with me immediately. Like this is possibly the worst customer service I've ever received.

Two days ago, a rep tells me that the case manager got a hold of my host, but NEVER called me back to update me. Again she's "out of office" and I blew up and an airbnb rep said they put a note on another manager to call me to help me out and another note to the case manager to call me immediately. Still today, no answer from Airbnb or the host.

I did pay with Paypal, so is there a possibility that their customer service and dispute can help me get my money back and just cancel this airbnb?Note that this reservation is about 4 months away, but I need to have this all planned out and it's not like I'm doing anything last minute.

If you file a Paypal dispute, you will not get your money back. You would only win the dispute if you did not receive the goods or services for which you had paid. Your complaint is that you will receive what you paid for, but you've changed your mind about wanting it since you paid. Strict cancellation policies are like the Airbnb equivalent of "all sales final; no returns or exchanges." I have no experience with it, but I have also heard that chargebacks and similar actions can get you banned from Airbnb.

I'm sorry this is a frustrating experience for you. You are definitely receiving poor customer service from both the host and Airbnb. But you aren't getting screwed or taken advantage of. If your host was in touch, they would be within their rights to deny your request. If your Airbnb case manager returned your calls, they would tell you you do not qualify for a refund.

I hope your host does get back to you and is willing to work with you. Good luck.

It sounds like the host has already answered you by not approving your request. They're not obligated to do that. As manhattan said you have a contract and that's that. The PayPal dispute won't work and may get you banned from Airbnb for trying. Just go on the trip you paid for and leave whenever you want but you still have to pay for what you purchased.

First, you have a contract. I recognize you want to change the terms of that contract. But neither the host nor Airbnb are obliged to do so.

Second, it is not terrible "customer service." Airbnb has done nothing wrong. And you are not complaining about their service. What you are complaining about is that you're not getting what you want. They are trying to accommodate your desire to break a contract - in so doing, you are asking the host and Airbnb to give up money. Do you expect them to be eager to do this?

Third, all Airbnb can really do is advocate on your behalf to ask the host to change the dates and give you a refund. If the host says now, what do you want Airbnb to do exactly?

Fourth, your only real hope lays in pleading with the host, being humble, and asking for some compassion. Explain your reason for the change, explain the consequence for cancelling, and explain how much it would mean to you. A good host will help, a regular host is perfectly within their rights to say no.

Fifth, this is a classic case of a customer not knowing what they bought or not caring what they bought. If you thought there was a chance you would cancel, you should have bought insurance or booked with a place with a "flexible" cancellation policy. You didn't, and because of your error you are now asking the host or Airbnb to lose money. Why do you feel entitled to that?

Sixth, you can't have Paypal dispute the charge - you have no grounds and Airbnb has been shown to go to bat for the host to protect those funds because Airbnb gets a cut.

Seventh, if your emails above have been anything like your emails to the host, I can understand why he/she stopped replying. You are asking for a favor - an accommodation. Be more humble in your approach with both the host and Airbnb and less entitled and angry.

How do you know what conversations with my emails with the host. I've been only polite with the host the whole time. It feels unprofessional that I can't even get a "no I can't shorten your days" and instead he completely ignores me. I rather get a straight answer instead if having a host ignore me and have airbnb drag this. I have been humble this whole time, but that fact that no one can give me a straight answer is frustrating. The fact that the airbnb case manager was able to get a hold of my host and not give me an update is unprofessional.

It's reasonable to expect a response from your host, but at this point, if they say "Sorry I can't accommodate your change request," what does that change for you? Do you cancel, or adjust your plans, or do you eat the extra cost?

If you do this Paypal Dispute thing, <speculation here> I imagine airbnb will consider your account negligent and possibly ban you from the platform. Or you may get nothing back, as opposed to canceling for 50%.

I basically eat the extra cost. It's not the host's fault I know. I just want an answer so I can plan around it at this point. A lot of miscommunication with my other friends who are coming with me. It's not like I'm demanding a full refund. I'm seriously just looking for some kind of answer...

I said "IF your emails above have been..." In other words, I never said I know what your conversations have been like with the host, and I didn't pretend to know. That's why I qualified my opinion and advice. Please read more carefully.

As for your complaint that the host has not yet responded, that is completely valid. Can you please explain how long you've been trying to contact the host - how long is "a while."